A $363 million transformation of Melbourne Park will ensure it remains the home of the Australian Open for years to come.

The redevelopment is the biggest investment in the precinct since the Australian Open moved to Melbourne Park from Kooyong almost 20 years ago.

The big-budget construction is hardly surprising as the Open attracts more than 600,000 live spectators, plus a television audience of hundreds of millions.

State Racing, Ports, Major Projects and Regional Cities Minister
Denis Napthine
says the redevelopment will ensure the Australian Open stays in Victoria until at least 2036.

“Every year the Australian Open directly delivers about $160 million to the economy and supports more than 1000 valuable local jobs," he says.

Napthine says the Open indirectly delivers significant benefits given the international exposure to about 240 million viewers from around the world who tune in.

The first stage of part one of the redevelopment has been completed. Rainwater-harvesting and treatment facilities have been installed, extensions to the south-west of the external concourse surrounding Rod Laver Arena are done and upgrades to the services and landscaping are finished.

Major Projects Victoria is managing the construction and delivering the master plan. Project director Tim Bannerman says the improvements will significantly reduce water usage.

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“It is a great landscape improvement which has given the precinct a high-quality green edge," he says.

“The rainwater-harvesting facility will help cut down the annual costs incurred during the Open."

A major upgrade is under way to fully enclose the Margaret Court Arena. This includes the installation of a retractable roof and additional seating to increase crowd capacity to 7500.

The new eastern plaza will incorporate eight new indoor courts and 13 outdoor courts for elite training and general public use as well as change rooms and a gymnasium.

The tennis court’s surface, Plexicushion was introduced by Tennis Australia and is the signature surface of the Open.

“Just as Wimbledon has grass, the French Open has clay and the US Open has hard court, we have the blue Plexicushion surface, which is specific to Australia," Bannerman says.

“These courts had to be built to the specific requirements of Tennis Australia. It is a highly specified and precise surface."

Another challenge has been to overcome the soaring temperatures that often plague players and spectators during January.

“We have been mindful of the hot Melbourne temperatures during the redevelopment of the precinct," he says. “When the weather is too hot or when it rains, play on outdoor courts has to stop.

“The Rod Laver arena was the first court to have a retractable roof. As part of stage one, two retractable roofs have been built. One will be over the Hisense Arena, and the other over the Margaret Court Arena.

“This means Melbourne Park will be the only grand slam to have three operable roofs."

Other events throughout the year, such as netball, basketball and concerts will also benefit from the retractable roofs, says Bannerman.

Accessing all the major venues through a new extension of a public bridge is under way.

The bridge will connect the MCG into Melbourne Park and run right across Olympic Boulevard to AAMI Park. Parking at the venue will also be improved with 1000 car spaces added and up to 30 bus parks over two levels.

Stage one of the park’s facelift began in May 2010 and is expected to be completed by the 2015 Australian Open. The total transformation of Melbourne Park is expected to take 10 to 15 years.